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Saturday, 27 September 2014

GODMAKER - S/T (Album Review)

Album Type:
Album

Date Released:
11th
November 2014

Label:
Aqualamb Records/Dullest Records

Godmaker –
S/'T – track listing:

Megalith

Shallow Points

Desk Murder

Faded Glory

Bio

Tom Petty was not
fucking around.

Andrew Archey and
Jon Lane have been incubating this project for so long that hip-hop
and teenage idiots with keyboards and smartphones hadn't yet ruined
the word 'swagger,' when they began it. Pete Ross, already playing
out with Cleanteeth, was exactly the riff-maker and the voice they
needed.... The last piece of the puzzle wasn't as easy. Most of a
year later, and many guitarists in, a random conversation with an old
friend, and a quick exchange of songs brought Chris Strait, Jon's
former bandmate in Kansan hardcore outfit The Last Tyrant, across the
country to round out the band.

Godmaker hatched in
the Spring of 2013, with all the pent up energy of a truant Mayan
apocalypse. The mission, such that it should be equated with 'other'
things: to take the grit and grime and fearlessness of a band like
Mastodon, the dynamics and complexities and arrangements of a band
like Tool, the bearded swagger of a band like Red Fang, the forlorn
sparseness of Pallbearer or Cult of Luna, and occasionally the
unavoidably goofy head-bob inducing swing of a band like Clutch, and
create one expansive, comprehensive (and yes, very loud) whole.

Where that leads,
let alone ends up, they don't even know, or probably care to....

But they do know
that with something like 50 years of gigging, writing and recording
experience between them, *this* is the music they've been waiting,
wanting to make. *This* is where to go for broke. *This* is
fulfillment.

Let's
not fuck around here folks. Godmaker's S/T debut album is a stunning
album packed full of awesome riffs. Let me just cut to the chase and
say – Godmaker – is heavy, loud and angry as hell. If you're a
fan of Red Fang, Kyuss and Mastodon then prepare to meet Godmaker as
they will impress you in a big way.

Godmaker
is only on for a brisk 32 minutes but it packs an almighty punch from
these self-proclaimed followers of the mighty BEARD(S). First track –
Megalith – has an heavy as hell infectious sludge rock groove that
will have you rocking out in no time at all. Godmaker's style of
Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal sees the band unleash an unrelenting
assault with passionate vocals to match. The vocals are more of the
clean based without a death growl in sight though Pete's vocals are
still very dangerous to listen to.

Second
track – Shallow Points – is a heavier affair compared to Megalith
as Pete and Chris combine their vocal talents for one heavy pounding
exercise of mass and volume. The vocals are almost heavier than the
riffs themselves as the band bring the heaviness to the party. The
Sludge Metal riffs are the main driving force here as the band merge
frenzied fast-paced riffs against the slower and calmer bass heavy
side of their music. Though it's only time before Godmaker turn into
dangerous wrecking machines once again. My advice – Embrace the
riff or get the fuck out of here as there is no turning back with
Godmaker.

Third
track – Desk Murder – carries on the frenzied attack from the
previous track with a great sideline of twin guitar worship before
the heavy pounding drums and vocals make you feel unsettled once
more. Desk Murder has a slight Red Fang/Mastodon style feel which is
no bad thing as it's one of the albums stand-out tracks. Godmaker
start fusing Progressive style Stoner/Sludge Metal with hints of
epic Post-Metal riffs starting to creep in. Desk Murder is an
emotionally charged track that will stay with you for a very long
time indeed.

The
last track is the almost 12 minute epic – Faded Glory. This is
where Godmaker come into their own existence as a powerful and
hard-hitting band as they unleash too many great riffs to mention.
It's an epic ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. Faded
Glory is a powerful and emotionally charged track that ends the album
on a high.

Godmaker
is an outstanding debut album from Godmaker. Lets see what Godmaker
can do with album No 2.

Thanks
to Johnathan and Eric at Aqualamb Records for sending a promo.
Godmaker will be released on November 11, 2014 on Aqualamb and will
be available digitally, as well as part of a new 100-page book
format, featuring the artwork of Joseph Silver and Stephen Wilson. A
special, limited edition cassette tape will also be available through
Dullest Records.

Band Submissions

To those bands who have recently issued their first demo or album via bandcamp and would like to be featured on our 666 Pack Review or considered for a full review or stream please contact Aaron via email including your EPK, band bio, album file or download code, including artwork.

To those bands issuing their sophomore record and so on and would like to be considered for a review or stream on the blog. Get in touch using the same address above

We will consider bands from any genre but exclusively stoner, sludge, doom, psych, post-metal, experimental, black-metal etc. (Whilst I would like to respond to every email, this is not always possible.) Thanks